Page 54 of Kingpin
The four of us whoaren’tabout to die chuckle together, but I don’t let it last long. This business needs tending to.
“Okay, Anthony, I don’t wanna drag this out, so I’m gonna get right down to it,” I say as I take a seat next to Skinny Joe and light up a Cuban. “You don’t know me, and I’d hate for you to get the wrong impression, so it’s important that I’m honest with you. You’re gonna die here in a few minutes, Anthony. However, before you die, I have one more question. Have you spoken to Abram since your failed attempt on my life?”
Anthony tries to answer, but the words get choked up in his throat as tears start streaming from his eyes. He’s scared, which is understandable. He probably should’ve thought about that before he fired those bullets at me and Alannah.
“Look, I know it’s hard to accept impending death,” I say, trying to help the guy out. “But if you don’t answer my question, I’m gonna make sure my friend over there with the bat prolongs the dying process as much as possible, then I’m gonna make sure your grandmother finds your dead body with your fucking face smashed in the middle of her living room. So, do yourself and your grandmother a favor, and answer the fucking question.”
Anthony takes a deep breath and blows the air out.
“I spoke to him on the phone,” he says, his words coming out in a trembling heap.
“I see. What’d you tell him?”
“I called him right after I did it, and I told him it was done. I told him I got you, and he said he’d meet me with the money in a day or two, once things quieted down.”
“Has he paid you yet?”
“No.”
“Why’d you tell him you got me?”
“I thought I did. I didn’t have time to stick around and make sure, though. So, I assumed I did.”
“See, now that’s fucked up,” Skinny Joe starts up again. “Abram hires thismulignanto do a hit, then doesn’t even get around to paying the fucking guy before he gets wacked. So, you literally did that shit for nothing, man. That’s gotta fucking suck.”
Joe, Tommy, and Charlie all laugh as another tear slides down Anthony’s face. He’s absolutely terrified and I can see he regrets ever falling for Abram’s shit. Abram should’ve told him who he was dealing with, but he let the kid get fucked instead. I almost feel bad for the guy. Almost.
“Alright,” I say as I stand up. “Well, Anthony, I’ll let you in on a little secret. I was planning on making our little meeting last a lot longer, and for it to be much more painful for you. But I’m in a good mood today. I’m still wearing the same clothes I had on last night, and seeing as how I’m not a bum on the streets, you know that means I had a good night. So, since I’m in such a good mood, I’m gonna let you off the hook.”
Anthony’s head snaps up.
“So, you’re not gonna kill me?”
“No, I’m not gonna kill you, Anthony,” I reply, as I think of Alannah’s face and reach for the door. I latch on to that good feeling that she gives me, then I look at Anthony. “I’mnot gonna kill you, but my friend, Charlie, is.” I look at Charlie. “Make it quick and get rid of the body. Clean up in here so his grandmother doesn’t know. She can think he ran off or something. After you dump him, find Abram, who apparently thinks I’m dead. That means his guard will be down, which is fucking perfect. I want this thing done and over with.”
Charlie nods and I turn to leave, but Anthony speaks up again.
“Come on, man,” he yells. “Cut me some fucking slack. I was just looking to make some money. I wasn’t trying to get involved in this life. Cut me some slack, please!”
I stop at the door and turn my head to look at Anthony, who’s trying his best to give me sad puppy eyes.
“Cut you some slack?” I snip. “Did you know you killed a guy that night? Some poor, innocent bastard took one of your stray bullets to the back of the head while he was eating his fucking mozzarella sticks with his wife. She’s a fucking widow now, probably crying over her dead husband as we speak. Can you go cut her some slack? Did you plan on cutting me some slack that night?”
Anthony puts his head down as he starts crying again.
“I thought not,” I say, then I nod the go-ahead to Charlie. “Call me when you find Abram.”
I stick my cigar in my mouth and walk out of the house, making sure the door closes behind me. I take the narrow sidewalk back to my car, and before I get halfway, I hear the silencer-suppressed gunshot that ends Anthony’s life.
Good riddance.
